Hillsborough ‘cover up’

Tissue samples were taken from the bodies of Hillsborough tragedy victims without their families’ knowledge, the independent panel has disclosed.

The panel, which is sifting through documents relating to the 1989 disaster, said they considered the discovery was so important it could not wait until they report more fully next spring.

They have sent ten letters to families informing them that tissue, known as blocks or slides, were taken at the post-mortem examination stage. The tissue was taken for further examination and retained.

The practice, which was in accordance with established procedure at the time, has since been outlawed after changes to legislation in the wake of the Alder Hey organ retention scandal.